Infantrymen, tankers work together for combined arms exercise

Photo By Sgt. Marcus Floyd | Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division participated in a combined arms live fire exercise Feb. 5, 2015, on Fort Hood, Texas. The exercise included M1A2 Abrams Tanks, M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and infantrymen who all advance on a common objective.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

02.05.2015

Courtesy Story

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Spc. Marcus Floyd
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HOOD, Texas — As roaring tanks roll across the Clabber Creek Range and uphill toward their objective Feb. 5, infantrymen on foot engage enemy targets and fire.

Although it sounds like a normal day of training, infantrymen and tankers don’t get many opportunities to conduct live-fire exercises together.

“It was fun being attached to our infantry counterparts,” said Cpl. Anthony Fitch, a tank crew member with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “It’s nice to see how they do things compared to how we do things, and it's always fun to shoot rounds.”

By creating an environment where infantrymen train with M1A2 Abrams tanks and M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, the Soldiers gain the opportunity to train in a situation that more closely resembles a deployed environment.

Beginning with an Abrams tank platoon firing at targets down range, an hourlong exercise commences. After the tank platoons successfully complete their objectives, Soldiers in Bradley Fighting Vehicles begin firing at several targets. Finally, infantrymen emerge from the Bradleys and begin bounding toward their objective.

“The goal is to bring everyone together in a combat environment and get everyone used to firing live rounds around one another,” said Fitch.

Taking tactical vehicles into consideration when conducting infantry movements presented some challenges, but it is important to rehearse, said Spc. Stephen Vocox, a tank crew member assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st ABCT.

“It's very important, because if we go down range we’re going to have to work hand-in-hand together,” said Vocox. “Since they are going to put us together we need to practice now, so we can be successful in the future.”

“It’s all about staying up on your skills, and making sure you can recognize other elements down range,” said Vocox.

“We need to see other vehicles out there, besides tanks, and understand what their capabilities are,” said Fitch. “It gives us good insight into their side of the house.”

• Date Taken: 02.05.2015
• Date Posted: 02.17.2015 11:04
• Story ID: 154624
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US